Escambia County hosting L.O.S.T. community open house Tuesday

Escambia County and District 1 Commissioner Steve Stroberger are inviting the public to a Local Option Sales Tax (L.O.S.T.) Community Open House on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 5 p.m. at the Bellview Library, located at 6425 Mobile Highway.

The free, family-friendly event will showcase county ambulances, fire trucks, and dump trucks purchased through L.O.S.T. funding, and give attendees a chance to talk with Escambia County staff and Commissioner Stroberger about the upcoming renewal of the Local Option Sales Tax and the projects it has funded throughout the community.

The Bellview Library itself is a L.O.S.T.-funded project, opening in 2022 as the first public library in District 1. It offers books, technology, educational programs, workforce resources, and lifelong learning opportunities for the Bellview community and surrounding areas.

The one-cent Local Option Sales Tax generates revenue for capital projects and infrastructure needs across Escambia County, including public safety equipment, fire stations, park improvements, road resurfacing, sidewalks, and stormwater improvements. Because it's a sales tax, it draws revenue from visitors as well as residents, easing the county's reliance on property taxes.

L.O.S.T. was first approved by voters in 1992 and has been renewed in 1997, 2006, and 2014. According to a University of West Florida Haas Center study, L.O.S.T.-funded projects in Escambia County from 2009 to 2028 represent an estimated $2.1 billion in local economic impact.